sea lamprey


noun

a parasitic marine lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, that spawns in fresh water along both Atlantic coasts and in the Great Lakes, where it is responsible for losses of economically valuable fish.

Origin of sea lamprey

First recorded in 1875–80

British Dictionary definitions for sea lamprey

sea lamprey

noun

a common anadromous lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, a form of which occurs in the Great Lakes of N America and causes great losses of fish